Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GIRZIE, n. Also girrz(z)ie. [′gɪrzi]
1. A maid-servant (Ags., Fif. 1954, rare).Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 124:
And a pretty pack they wad be — fishwives, female caudies . . . girrzies, auld maids wi' bairds, and young limmers wi' green parasols.Ib. 198:
A lodging-house Girrzzie laying down a baikie fu' o' ashes at the mouth of a common stair.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 282:
He took the Beuk of course nicht and morning, gathering a' the girzies and the men into the spence.
2. Used by Stevenson as a familiar and slightly derogatory form of address to a young woman.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Merry Men (1925) ii.:
“Mary, ye girzie,” he interrupted himself to cry with some asperity, “what for hae ye no' put out the twa candlestivks?”Sc. 1896 Stevenson W. of Hermiston 181:
“I'll leave that for your pairt of it, ye girzie,” said he. “Ye'll lee to me fast eneuch, when ye hae gotten a jo.”
